Blackline Guardian Fund Raises $436,000 for Influencer Security After Charlie Kirk Assassination
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 14
Blackline Guardian Fund Raises $436,000 for Influencer Security After Charlie Kirk Assassination
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 14
At least $436,000 has been donated to the Blackline Guardian Fund, a new nonprofit paying for executive protection for conservative social media influencers.
The fund was created after Charlie Kirk’s assassination last fall, which heightened fears of politically motivated violence against conservative media figures.
Nick Shirley, 23, used Blackline-funded guards at CPAC in Texas in March and on later reporting trips focused on immigrant communities.
Founder Brandon Tatum, a police officer turned conservative influencer and Blexit co-founder, says the charity treats protecting right-wing creators as a public good.
When private funds protect online figures, what new risks emerge when personal security becomes part of an influencer's brand?
With influencers investigating multi-million dollar fraud, who verifies their explosive claims before they trigger federal action?